Cooperator of the Year Awards

Matt Meyers Recognized with 2014 Cooperator of the Year Award

Matt Meyers, Watershed Projects
Implementation Branch Chief for Fairfax County Stormwater Planning
Division, was honored as the 2014 Cooperator of the Year. For over 15
years, he has been a stalwart partner and ambassador for NVSWCD’s
programs, resources and expertise. The number of cooperative projects are
many; recent efforts include:

Completion of the Wakefield Run Stream Restoration Project,

Coordination of stream restoration efforts for the Tyson’s Corner
Redevelopment,

Management of the Pohick Watershed Lake Dredging and Rehabilitation
Projects, and presenting the status of these efforts at public
meetings, at presentations to NVSWCD’s Board of Directors, and at a
Green Breakfast,

Coordination of efforts to improve drainage on private property in the
Patton Terrace neighborhood, and

Promotion of the value of cooperation and partnerships in natural
resource protection through many venues, including the Bay-wide
Stormwater Retreat.

In a January 2015 ceremony, NVSWCD Board Chair John Peterson told Meyers
that he is a "true ambassador for natural resource management in
Fairfax County" and "a role model in the profession for your
long-term cooperation and partnership."

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The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District annually
recognizes individuals or groups who work in partnership with the
district to protect and conserve natural resources in Fairfax County.
Other recent honorees include:

The Friends of Accotink
Creek were named the 2013 Cooperator of the Year in recognition of their
partnership on the Wakefield Run project, promoting and taking on the
stream naming, coordinating stream cleanups, native plant rescues and
planting, invasive plant removal volunteer days, and using many tools to
engage the Accotink Creek watershed community in water quality
protection.

Charles Smith was named the 2012
Cooperator of the Year for his collaboration with NVSWCD staff on many
projects over the years, including rain garden projects at the Packard
Center, as well as Audrey Moore, Mt. Vernon and Cub Run Recreation
Centers. He also facilitated a stream restoration at Wakefield Recreation
Center.

Chuck Craft, General
Superintendent for the Department of Public Works and Environmental
Services, was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his
outstanding partnership over many years. Craft has partnered with the
NVSWCD staff to organize the Annual Land Conservation Awards
program. Under his leadership, the entire program runs smoothly, from
the nomination of projects and the semi-annual site judging to the
culminating awards ceremony.

The Fairfax Master Naturalists is a cadre
of volunteers that has been growing since 2007. Their 138 active
naturalists (as of 2011) are trained in the field and classroom and have
contributed countless volunteer hours to environmental projects. Fairfax
Master Naturalists have partnered, volunteered and taken a leadership
role with a number of prominent environmental programs with the Soil and
Water Conservation District, including as Watershed-Friendly Garden Tour
hosts, organizational judges for the Fairfax County Science and
Technology Fair, long-term biological stream monitors, and volunteer
storm drain labeling project leaders